I Now Prounounce You Chuck & Larry...

Everybody loves a wedding right? Not necessarily. Did you know that over 75% of our country does NOT support gay marriage? They might support civil unions and gay rights, but NOT gay marriage.

I am in the minority on this issue. I am perfectly fine with gay marriage and I think it should be legal.

I think that being gay is not a choice, and I don't think it's a sin. I don't believe in ostracizing someone because of it. Why should someone have to live a lie, or feel horrible about themselves if this is who they are? If two people love each other and want to commit to spending a lifetime together, and their church is willing to perform a wedding ceremony, why not?

Here are some arguments AGAINST gay marriage:

Marriage is an institution between one man and one woman.

Marriage is for procreation.

Same sex marroages aren't the ideal environment in which to raise children.

Gay relationships are immoral and violate the sacred institution of marriage.

Marriages are for ensuring the continuation of the species.

The following excerpt pretty much sums up our President's view on the subject:

Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

Barack Obama did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.

He said he would support civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, as well as letting individual states determine if marriage between gay and lesbian couples should be legalized.

From the White House Web site: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

Here is an argument FOR gay marriage, that I agree with:

Our government was set up from the very beginning, as an institution whose goal was the preservation of the rights of its citizens. Nowhere in either the constitution or the declaration of independence is there outlined a governmental responsibility or power to reward behaviors the government or the masses like. Our government’s job is to protect the rights of all of us, including those that are gay, not to uphold the prejudices of the masses, as it is doing in this case. It is the government’s responsibility not to uphold in this case the prejudiced will of the people, no matter how much of a majority they constitute but to defend the rights of its people. Period.

The fact of the matter is, since our elected officials' job is to represent the citizens of the United States, and most of our country does not support gay marriage, chances are, it will not be legal in most states. At least not for now.

What do YOU think?

Footnote: If this sounds like an essay for a 10th grade political science class, it's because I'm trying to be RATIONAL and STICK TO FACTS. I know flying off the handle is more entertaining. But I'm not going to do it. (At least not today.)